Thread tensioner

ABSTRACT

A device consists of a plurality of rings which are constrained by separator means in vertical spaces permitting limited lateral movement as well as up and down movement, and a rod which passes through the rings. In alternate embodiments the rod is movable to a plurality of positions to control the contact of the rings with a thread passing therethrough.

United States Patent lnvcntor Max l-lilscher 21 Bottingerstrasse, 7901Tomerdingen, Germany Appl. No. 751,476 Filed Aug. 9, 1968 Patented Feb.2, 1971 THREAD TENSIONER 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1 242/ 154, 242/ 1 53 Int. Cl B65h 59/12 Field of Search 242/153,154, 147, 157

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,445 11/1952 Buder242/154 3,323,753 6/1967 Spurgeon 242/ 147 Primary Examiner-JohnPetrakes Attorney-Paul & Paul ABSTRACT: A device consists of a pluralityof rings which are constrained by separator means in vertical spacespermitting limited lateral movement as well as up and down movement, anda rod which passes through the rings. In alternate embodiments the rodis movable to a plurality of positions to control the contact of therings with a thread passing therethrough.

PATENTED FEB 2197i 3559.916

SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. Mox Hilscher MFM ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEU FEB 21% I 559,91

sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. Max Hilscher ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEU rm 219m 3.659.916

Fig. 9

INVENTOR.

Max Hilscher ATTORNEYS THREAD TENSIONER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION theline.

The basic ring-type tensioner as is known in the art, consists of aplurality of rings which hang on the thread line passing through thetensioner, which rings are separated by spacer bars. To my knowledgethere are no tensioners of the ringtype which employ any means foradjusting the position of the rings with respect to the thread line soas to vary the forces on the line. Depending on such factors as the typeof textile material being processed, such as thread, yam, cord, etc.,the twist in the material, the crimp in the material, the denure of thematerial, and the speed at which it is being processed, the effect of agiven set of tensioning rings, insofar as their ability to impart aconstant or uniform tension to the textile material is concerned, canvary greatly. Under certain conditions, the jumping and rotating of therings is so violent that, as a practical matter, tension in the textilematerial is not controlled at all. Accordingly, I have recognized a needin the prior art for some means of controlling the movement anddisposition of the rings with respect to the textile material passingthrough the tensioner, so as to control the tension in said material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have provided, and disclosed in thisapplication, an improved ring tensioner comprising a body having meansthereon for guiding a strand of textile material therethrough, a 3 5said rings in an arcuate path with respect to said textile material. Thelever arm is preferably adjustable to a plurality of predetermined fixedpositions. In an alternate embodiment, the bar is laterally retractableto release the rings from engagement therewith.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an effectivemeans for controlling the position of the rings in a ring tensionerwhereby the tension in the textile material being processed can bevaried within acceptable limits.

This and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ringtensioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows II-Il inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows III-III inFIG. 1, showing alternate positions in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows V-V in FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a portion of the device inalternate position;

FIG. 7 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows VII-VII inFIG. 4 with a portion of the device shown in phantom alternatepositions;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of my invention; and

FIG 9 is a plan view of the embodiment shown In FIG 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although specific forms of theinvention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and thefollowing description is drawn in specific terms for the purpose ofdescribing these forms of the invention, this description is notintended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 the ring tensioner in accordance with one embodimentof my invention comprises a body 10 which can be adjustably mounted toany suitable support means 11 by means of the bracket portion 12 and asetscrew 13. In the embodiment shown, the tensioner consists of two setsof rings; each set being independently controlled as will be more fullyexplained hereinafter. It should be understood that the number of ringsin a set or the number of sets in a particular tensioner can be variedwithin the scope of this invention without departing from the truespirit thereof. Accordingly, I shall describe in detail only the setdesignated generally 14, it being understood that similar parts performsimilar functions in the remaining sets.

The set 14 consists of three rings, 15, 16, and 17 which for practicalpurposes, are identical, circular in cross section and overallconfiguration, and preferably made of a ceramic material (as is wellknown in the art). The rings are disposed in the tensioner so as to berelatively free floating; that is, while they at times contact or engageother parts of the device or the material passing therethrough, they arenot fixedly connected to any other part of the device. The rings,however, are spaced from one another, and are confined to move onlywithin the space laterally bounded by the separator rings 18, 19, 20,and 21. They are vertically controlled by the laterally extendingportion 25 of the tension control bar designated generally 24.

Referring as needed to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the separator rings arepreferably U-shaped members formed from metallic wire or similarmaterial, and fixedly connected to the base 30 to form a rigid structurefor confining the lateral motion of the adjacent ring. Disposed inwardlyfrom the outer separator ring 21 and in the same vertical plane, thereis an inner separator ring 22 of a similar configuration andconstruction also fixedly attached to the base 30. A similar innerseparator ring is provided for each of the outer separator rings l8, l9,and 20.

Extending outwardly from the base 30 are a pair of flanges 31 and 32.Each flange supports a thread guide or eye 33 and 34 respectively whichis preferably made of a ceramic material, but can be of any suitablematerial and design as is well known in the art, for guiding the textilematerial, whether it be thread, yarn, cord, or the like through thetensioner.

Additional similar-type thread guides 35 and 36 are provided mounted onflanges connected to the body 10 and preferably disposed at acute anglesto the direction of travel of the textile material through the ringportion of the tensioner. The guide 35 can be conveniently referred toas the ballon breaker eye since it is associated with a relativelylarge, preferably circular, plastic disc 38, known in the art as aballon breaker, which is fixedly attached to the flange on the body 10for the purpose of controlling and guiding the yarn as is well known inthe art.

The flanges 31 and 32 also support the tension control bar 24. The barconsists of a laterally extending rod 25 which doglegs at either end toend portions 26 and 27 which are pivotally mounted in the flanges 31 and32 respectively. Lever arm 28 is fixedly connected as at 29 to portion27 of the control bar 24, so as to pivot the control bar in itsmountings upon movement thereof.

The textile material 40 is threaded through the device in the directionof the arrows so that it passes through the rings. To make it easy toaccomplish this step, the lever arm 28 is placed in the park" positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereby moving the tension control bar to theposition shown wherein it supports the rings in an arrested positionslightly eccentric to the eye 33.

In order to bring the rings into engagement with the textile material,the lever arm is swung on an arc as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, Inthis embodiment the tension control bar can be rotated more than l80 ifnecessary so that it could assume the position of bar 124, FIGS. 1 and3. As the bar 124 is swung from its position shown in phantom to itsposition shown in full lines. the set of rings designated generally 44move from the upper position shown in phantom to the posi tion shown infull lines wherein they are in engagement with the textile material 40,and no longer engage the laterally extending rod 125. In such position,the rings exert a force transverse to the direction of travel of thetextile material through the tensioner, and thereby impart a tension tothe textile material. Should the material break or run out, the ringswould drop onto the bar 125 as shown in the lower phantom position, FIG.3.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 7, I shall now describe an alternateembodiment of my invention wherein means are provided for adjustablypositioning the tension control bar to a plurality of predeterminedfixed positions. The tensioner shown comprises a body 210 on which thereis mounted a frame including a base 230 and outwardly extending flanges231 and 232. Each flange supports a thread guide as at 233 and 234,similar to those previously described. A set of six rings are provideddesignated generally 214, the rings being separated by outer and innerseparator rings as previously described. The tension control bardesignated generally 224 comprises a laterally extending rod 225 whichis doglegged to end portions which are pivotally mounted in the flanges231 and 232. A lever arm 228 is fixedly connected to the pivotallymounted portion of the tension control bar to move the bar upon movementof the lever arm. Once again, the rings are disposed about the laterallyextending rod 225 so as to rest thereon when no textile material ispresent in the device.

In this embodiment the flange 231 has an extended, thickened portion 239which is notched out to provide a series of notches for receiving thelever 228 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. The lever is preferably made ofa spring steel wire material, and while it is relatively rigid, it canbe easily bent to the right in FIG. 4, so that it will clear the raisedportion 239, and can be moved to various positions as shown in phantomin FIG. 7, wherein, once it is released, it springs back into one of theadjacent notches. The position of the rings can be effected within alimited range by the position of the tension control bar in accordancewith the predetermined position of the lever in the notched portion ofthe flange 231. Compare FIG. 5 with the phantom position shown in FIG.6.

When textile material, such as the thread line 240, is threaded throughthe guides and rings of a device as shown in FIG. 4, and the tensioncontrol bar is moved from its top dead center position toward its lowerposition, the rings soon come in contact with the thread line as shownin FIG. 5. As the control bar moves further down, more tension will beput upon the thread line. By virtue of the fact that the ring is free topivot around the control bar, the ring will tend to shift from aposition wherein it hangs solely from the laterally extending rod 225(as shown in phantom in FIG. 6) to a position wherein it hangs on boththe rod 225 and the thread line 240. As the bar is moved further down,the load can be increased on the thread line and conversely as it ismoved closer to the top position, the tension will be reduced. Further,note that even though the rings are in contact with the tension controlbar, they are not connected to it, and remain relatively free floating.Thus, the rings can relieve themselves when snagged for jumping inresponse to the moving line 240.

As previously mentioned, the number of rings in a set of rings can bevaried as desired and the number of sets in a tensioner also can bevaried. I have illustrated herein two variations which provide a measureof control over the tension applied by the rings to the textile materialbeing fed through the device. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1through 3 both sets of rings can be placed in contact with the textilematerial 40 so that it is acted upon by thefull weight of six rings.Alternatively. the set of rings. designated generally 14, can be removedfrom active contact with the textile material 40 by placing the lever 28in the parking position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For this purpose thelever 28 is conveniently bent to rest upon the body 10 and thus it willremain in the park" position until forcibly rotated.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, a greater measure ofcontrol can be exercized by use of the means for fixedly positioning thelever arm in a plurality of predetermined positions wherein a set ofrings can be placed in various fixed positions exerting more or lessforce on the textile material depending on the disposition of the ringswith respect to the line of movement of the material.

In a still further embodiment of my invention as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.the disposition of a single ring with respect to the thread line can beeffected. Here the design of the body and spacer elements have beenchanged significantly so that a further detailed description isnecessary. Accordingly, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 as needed, the devicecomprises a body 310 which can be mounted in any convenient manner aspreviously described. The body has upwardly extending flanges 311 and312, having guide eyes 313 and 314 disposed therein to guide the threadlines through the device. A plurality of spacer bars 315 preferablycircular in cross section and made of ceramic material as is well knownin the art, are spaced longitudinally along the body 310 and aresupported at their ends in the side walls of the body 310. In theembodiment shown, there are six ceramic rings 320, 321, 322, 323, 324,and 325, disposed in spaced relation alternating with the spacer bars.Fixedly attached to the sidewall 328 is a mounting bracket 329 whichsupports an inwardly extending terminal guide 330. The terminal guide330 has a laterally extending hole therethrough, the axis of which isparallel to the coincident axes of the guides 313 and 314.

To exercise control over the position of the rings, I have provided alaterally extending bar 340 which is disposed in sliding engagement in abearing 341 fixedly mounted in the flange 311 and positioned so as to beaxially aligned with the hole in the terminal guide 330. When the bar ismoved to the right, the end thereof extends into the hole so as to besupported by the guide 330 as shown in the phantom position. The bar isconveniently provided with a handle means 342 at one end which ispreferably hooked as at 343 at its free end so that it can be locked inposition about the flange 31 1 when it is fully inserted into the deviceas shown in the phantom position.

In the embodiments shown, the bar is designed to support three of thesix rings. As the bar is retracted to the left, FIGS. 8 and 9, the ringsare released sequentially and fall into engagement with the thread line350. Refer to the position shown in the FIGS. wherein the ring 322 is nolonger supported by the bar 340 and has now become engaged with thethread line 350. Conveniently. additional locking means 355. 356 areprovided for frictionally engaging the hook 343 on the bar 340 andmaintaining it in its extended position so that the number of ringsreleased may be determined selectively and the remaining ringspermanently retained.

It will be understood that the particular arrangement shown representsthe preferred embodiment and accordingly the bar 340 has been designedto support only some of the rings in the tensioner, since it is normallydesirable to have at least some rings in contact with the thread lineduring all phases of operation. However, it is within the contemplationof this invention that the bar could be extended to support all of therings or that two bars could be utilized, one extending from each side,to support separate sets of rings.

In view of the fact that in this embodiment, the bar is retracted sothat it no longer extends into the place of movement of the ring, it isdesirable to provide a means for retaining the rings should the threadline break. I have provided such a means in the form of a retainer car360 which extends laterally beneath the body 310 and passes through theplane of the rings. The retainer car is in close proximity to theceramic separator bars so that should the rings fall onto the retainercar, they can not slip out between the car and the ceramic bars. Theretainer car is conveniently supported to the body 310 at the sidewallsthereof as best shown at 361. 362, FIG 9 lt will be understood thatvarious changes in the details. materials and arrangement of parts whichhave been herein described and illustrated in order to explain thenature of this invention. may be made by those skilled in the art withinthe principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the followingclaims.

lclaim:

1. A tensioner, comprising: a plurality of rings; means for maintainingsaid rings in spaced relation; means for guiding a textile materialthrough said rings; means engaging said rings to adjustably limit theirtravel in the direction of the radius of said rings, comprising a rodmounted in said tensioner and disposed to pass through said rings, saidrod being movable in the axial direction with respect to said rings; andmeans provided in said device to engage said rod and retain it in aplurality of predetermined fixed lateral positions.

2. A tensioner comprising a plurality of rings, means for maintainingsaid rings in spaced relation, means for guiding a textile materialthrough said rings, and means engaging said rings to adjustably limittheir travel in the direction of the radius of said rings comprising arod mounted in said tensioner and disposed to pass through said rings.said rod being pivotally mounted to swing along the inner surface ofsaid rings.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said rod is movable to a plurality ofpredetermined fixed positions.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means for retaining said ringsin spaced relation comprises a plurality of U-shaped members, at leastone member being disposed on each side of each ring.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said U-shaped members are connectedat their free ends to a base, said base being disposed substantiallyvertically, said members being disposed in substantial alignment and inspace relation to one another, and a plurality of smaller similarlyconfigured U-shaped members are likewise disposed in said device insubstantial alignment and fixedly attached at their free ends to saidbase, at least one of said smaller members being disposed inwardly andin the same plane of each of said larger U-shaped members 6. Theinvention of claim 2 wherein a lever is connected at one end to saidpivotally mounted rod, said lever being bent to engage said device uponappropriate rotation thereof and thereby position said rod, to removesaid rings from contact with said textile material.

1. A tensioner, comprising: a plurality of rings; means for maintainingsaid rings in spaced relation; means for guiding a textile materialthrough said rings; means engaging said rings to adjustably limit theirtravel in the direction of the radius of said rings, comprising a rodmounted in said tensioner and disposed to pass through said rings, saidrod being movable in the axial direction with respect to said rings; andmeans provided in said device to engage said rod and retain it in aplurality of predetermined fixed lateral positions.
 2. A tensionercomprising a plurality of rings, means for maintaining said rings inspaced relation, means for guiding a textile material through saidrings, and means engaging said rings to adjustably limit their travel inthe direction of the radius of said rings comprising a rod mounted insaid tensioner and disposed to pass through said rings, said rod beingpivotally mounted to swing along the inner surface of said rings.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein said rod is movable to a plurality ofpredetermined fixed positions.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein themeans for retaining said rings in spaced relation comprises a pluralityof U-shaped members, at least one member being disposed on each side ofeach ring.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said U-shaped members areconnected at their free ends to a base, said base being disposedsubstantially vertically, said members being disposed in substantialalignment and in space relation to one another, and a plurality ofsmaller similarly configured U-shaped members are likewise disposed insaid device in substantial alignment and fixedly attached at their freeends to said base, at least one of said smaller members being disposedinwardly and in the same plane of each of said larger U-shaped members.6. The invention of claim 2 whErein a lever is connected at one end tosaid pivotally mounted rod, said lever being bent to engage said deviceupon appropriate rotation thereof and thereby position said rod, toremove said rings from contact with said textile material.